From the President’s Desk
Dear friends,
Warm greetings to all.
The past month has been both eventful and inspiring, reflecting the continued momentum of palliative care initiatives across the country. It is heartening to witness the growing engagement of healthcare professionals, institutions, and state chapters in strengthening palliative care services and education.
A significant milestone in the past month was the launch of IAPC’s Certificate Course in Palliative Care for Nursing Faculty. This much-awaited initiative, offered in both online and in-person formats, aims to equip nurse educators across India with the knowledge and skills required to effectively deliver the recently incorporated palliative care module within undergraduate nursing curricula.
The maiden in-person batch of the programme was conducted successfully at the College of Nursing, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from 15th to 18th March 2026, followed by the inaugural online batch which commenced on 23rd March 2026.
I had the privilege of being present throughout the in-person programme at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, which allowed me to closely observe and appreciate its structure, relevance, and impact. I also had the opportunity to interact with and teach 45 enthusiastic nurse participants whose commitment and engagement were truly encouraging.
I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the organising team led by Dr Asha P. Shetty (Professor-cum-Principal, College of Nursing, AIIMS Bhubaneswar & EC Member, IAPC) for the successful delivery of this programme. My sincere gratitude to Dr Asha P. Shetty and Mr Terrymize I for their dedication in conceptualising and implementing this initiative, and to IAPC faculty members- Ms Meheli Chakraborty and Dr S Latha Srikanth- who contributed to the maiden batch through their excellent teaching sessions, leaving a lasting impact on the participants. I also thank the team at Bagchi Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre (BKPCC), Bhubaneswar, for providing a valuable experiential learning opportunity to the participants.
A detailed report, along with participant feedback from both the online and in-person programmes, is available in the Education and Training Section of this newsletter.
During my visit to Odisha, I also had the opportunity to interact with members of the state chapter and visit palliative care centres, including Bagchi Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre (BKPCC), the two centres of Amrit Dhara Palliative Care Trust (ADPCT) Bhubaneswar, and Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer (AHPGIC), Cuttack, and SUM University, the host institution for IAPCON 2027. I was honoured to participate as the chief speaker at a dinner dialogue hosted by the ADPCT team and also to deliver a session on “Pain to Palliation: Nurses’ Role” at AHPGIC. The interactions with teams of doctors and nurses at these centres were both engaging and encouraging. I sincerely thank Dr Sukdev Nayak, Dr Sumita Mohanty, and Dr Mami Parija for facilitating these meaningful engagements. I wish all the champions of palliative care in Odisha continued success in their important work.
My visit to Sri Sathya Sai Palliative Care and Cancer Centre (SSSPCC), Puttaparthi, was equally enriching. I congratulate the team for organising a meaningful workshop, where I had the privilege of delivering the keynote address. My best wishes to the team as they continue to deliver well-structured and compassionate palliative care services.
I am pleased to share that the bid to host the Asia Pacific Hospice and Palliative Care Network (APHN) Conference 2029 has been submitted jointly by IAPC and Sparsh Hospice, Hyderabad. We look forward to a positive outcome.
Another notable achievement this month is the formal registration of the West Bengal State Chapter of IAPC, marking a further strengthening of our national network. I extend my congratulations to everyone involved in this effort.
I encourage healthcare professionals and volunteers to actively participate in the upcoming training programmes offered by IAPC and the Academy of Palliative Medicine (APM). Please visit the Education and Training Section of this newsletter for more details.
I also extend my sincere appreciation to all contributors of the exclusive articles featured in this edition. I invite you to explore these insightful contributions. Additionally, the accomplishments and recognitions of our colleagues continue to inspire us all—do take a moment to celebrate their accomplishments through the dedicated section in this newsletter.
As we look ahead, I encourage all members to mark their calendars for the 34th International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2027), to be held at SUM University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Early bird registration is open until 31st August 2026, and I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to be part of what promises to be a significant academic and networking event.
Warm regards.
Dr. Geeta Joshi
President
Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC)